appreciation

I believe that we should appreciate people.  Even if they are just doing their jobs.  So many folks are used to being treated poorly.  It does not have to be that way.

We can be different.  We can be the voice of kindness.   We can be the voice of appreciation.  Who is around you in your world that is not used to being thanked?  I bet they will appreciate your thanks all the more.  Your words may surprise them, but everyone likes to be thanked.  Everyone likes it when others show gratitude.

Simply say, "thank you so much for helping me today."

It's not that hard.

Thank you for reading this today.  Thank you for being a thinker.  Thank you for considering the possibility that we can all grow in kindness.  Thank you so much for being my friend.

Thank you.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

Memorial Day

Memorial Day... a day to remember those who fought in our wars.  Whether we agreed with the wars or not, to fight in the military is a sacrifice that I believe deserves respect.

Memorial Day is also a day to remember our loved ones who have gone on before us.  My Dad, Paul Brinkman.  My mother, Mary Brinkman.  My friends, Dan Horn, Joel Horsch, and Kathy Krueger.

It is sad to lose those that we love.

The older I get, the more time I spend thinking about life.  What a gift it is!  What a joy it is to be alive.  I also believe that whatever is on the other side must be pretty good too.

But for now, let us live, let us love, let us live lives of gratitude.  We only get one shot at this, so let's make the most of every day and every moment that we have left.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

Beee Goooood...

That is what E.T. said, "beeee gooooood."  When I was a young father I used to remind my children to be good to their brother and sisters.  Never leave your wingman, I would say.  They will be your brother and sister for ever.

Today I want to say, "be good to each other."  To your brothers and sister in your family, and to your brothers and sisters in this world.  

It is not that hard.  I think that is a new mantra for me... "it's not that hard."  IT'S NOT THAT HARD.  With a little effort, we can be good to each other.  And oh, what a difference it will make.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

Smile

I have noticed lately that a smile can go a long way to make a situation more friendly.  Some people are not used to you smiling at them.  Do it anyway.  

It takes less muscles to smile than to frown.  Take a step towards making their day better.  Take a step towards creating good will in this world.

Smile a little smile.  It's not that hard, and it will be good for your soul.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

Tip the Skycap

When I fly, I like to make use of the skycap.  These are the guys standing outside of the terminal that will take your luggage and give you a boarding pass.  The line is usually much shorter and you can get rid of your bags sooner.  The line is often shorter because most people understand that the skycap is a tip based service.

You use them, you tip.

Some people don't know that, and some people don't care.  If you did not know this, now you do.  If you use the sky cap, give them $5.  It is a tipping service.

For that matter, almost anyone will take a tip.  The guy who mows the grass.  The UPS man.  The mailman.  The flight attendant.  The server at the restaurant.  The person working the skycap.  

It won't hurt us to tip them.  In fact, it makes us happy to be generous.  Try it.  Take a big step into living a generous or a more generous life.  Find more ways to give yourself away.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

attitude is a choice

I am at the hotel restaurant.  I am flying out the next day.  I order my customary ice tea [unsweet] and a sandwich.  The server is fine with me.  A woman next to me announces a large party and explains where they will be sitting.  The server explains to her that they are short handed and she won't be able to help them.  20 minutes later, I find out that the server is having a bad day.  Back pain and trouble at home.  She does finally serve the large party, but complains to them the whole time.

Nice to me, not nice to the other person.  Why?  

I have made note recently of how a person's attitude can make a huge difference in the world around them.

I was on a plane flight.  I wandered to the back of the plane to ask for a cup of coffee [black].  One flight attendant said, "return to your seat."  That is all that he said.  No explanation, just return to your seat.  Well thankfully there was another flight attendant there.  This one said, "here, give me your cup."  He filled my coffee cup.

Two men.  Two choices.  One chose to show kindness.  One not so much.  

We all have choices to make.  What choices will you make today?  The world is waiting.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

I see her face...

There is a song from the 1970's by the Chi-lites, "I see her face everywhere I go, on the streets and even at the picture show, have you seen her..."

Lately I have been seeing her face, and his face.  The faces, the hair, the body shape of friends that have passed in the last few years.  It is actually painful.  I see this person, and my brain says, "oh, there is _____."  I look harder.  And my brain reminds me that they are gone.  😢

But for a moment, they were here again.  I miss them.  Why did they have to leave?  I don't know.  It sure hurts to lose those whom we love.

But this hurt is not the end.  In times of pain it is important to remember that we have a place to go.  We have a loving Father.  And, he holds the whole wide world in his hands, even me.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

God's reputation

Janet P. Williams as quoted in Richard Rohr's blog- "We tend to encounter God’s reputation before we (knowingly) encounter God. We gather all sorts of bits and pieces of information about God, some of it good and useful, some of it wildly off-center and frankly harmful to us and others. . . "

So there it is... many of us learn so many bad things about God as young people that it takes the rest of our lives to throw off those weights.

Oh, how the world would be a better place if the terrible things that have been taught in the name of God were banned. Oh how the world would be a better place if the true nature of God's love and grace was the only message on the table.

Well, we cannot do anything about what others teach in God's name, but we can dedicate ourselves to righting wrongs and teaching love and grace everywhere that we can.

We can't fix every broken idea or person, but we can step up to the plate and get our licks in for a God who is love.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

WWJD

In the news of late...

Someone was not served communion because of their view on abortion.  Now I don't care what political side you are on, if you are on one, you have a right to your path.  And I am not concerned about your views on social issues.  I have mine, and I am sure that you have yours.  They can get complicated.  I love you no matter what your views are.

So, for a moment, let's set aside our political views and our social issue stances and just ask the question: What would Jesus do?  Given a moment when someone wants to be in the inner circle, but they are doing something that he doesn't agree with, what would Jesus do?

Peter denied him, but he was welcome at the table.  Heck, Judas was at the table.

Friends, whatever your views on the news, just remember that Jesus welcomed everyone.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

I hate to admit it

At my age, I don't think that I should be afraid of anything anymore.  But I ran into something else that reminded me that fear is alive and well in this old carcass.

I was driving a 26' Penske truck in Virginia for my friend's construction company.  Difficult driving situations are difficult in your normal car, but plop yourself into a big rig and consider...

• I am driving in a town that I have never been.
• I am totally unfamiliar with the roads.
• I can't even tell, North, South, East and West.
• The lanes are narrow due to construction.
• The traffic is rush hour, stop and go.

If you happen to call me during such moments, you will likely get a very nervous Jeff.  Maybe if I did it more often I would be more comfortable with it.  But for now, I hang on tight and apply my best efforts to making it thru.

Ahh, I guess that is good advice... When you find yourself in a spot that is not of your preference, hang on tight and apply your best efforts.  Robert Shuler once said, "tough times don't last, but tough people do."

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

I received a card

I received a card in the mail from one of my favorite humans.

On the front of the card there was a quote.  The inside was blank so that you could write your own message, which this person did.

Here is what the front of the card said:

Live with intention.

Walk to the edge.

Listen hard.

Practice wellness.

Play with abandon.

Laugh.

Choose with no regret.

Continue to learn.

Appreciate your friends.

Do what you love.

Live as if this is all there is.

The author of that quote is Mary Anne Radmacher.

This is a reminder that we have this one shot and living and it is today.  Today only.  While mattresses are on sale everyday, and you can always find a blue light sale on Amazon, today is today.  Today is all that we have.

If you have been thinking about making a change, how about today?
If you have been thinking about living and loving with more intention, how about today?

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

Falling into the God that we don't know

There is much said in religious circles about "knowing God." I hear stories from time to time about someone who "hears from God."

It is my belief that God is bigger than our brains. God is bigger than everything. God is beyond our abilities to manage and control him and we should stop trying.

Isaiah 55:9 says, "My ways are higher than your ways, my thoughts are higher than your thoughts."

Richard Rohr said, “I would not respect any God that I could figure out” St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430) said the same: “If you understand it, then it is not God.”

Maybe instead of spending our lives trying to captivate and force God into a box, we should fall into the arms of a Father who is infinitely wiser and more gracious.  A God who welcomes us in our brokenness.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

it can't be both ways

I keep thinking about this and so from time to time I am going to post about it.

It can't go both ways.  We can't have it both ways.  God loves us but he is going to send us to hell.  That does not make any sense.  If God loves us, why does he need to hurt back?

Why would Jesus teach people to turn the other cheek when God really wants to send us to hell?  Or at least needs to send us to hell?

It is time to find a God that loves you.  It is time to release ourselves from the crazy notion that God has to kill something to be happy.

Today, for the first time, please believe that God is good.  Believe that God is a God of love.  Believe that you are loved and accepted... just the way that you are. 

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

We were Brothers

We were brothers... and sisters.

There is this group of people that I have been in ministry with over the years.  Friends, colleagues, people that I know.  People that I got to know and learned to love.

Every year at Annual Conference, I would read that so and so left our Conference and moved to another Conference in another state.  So and so got in trouble and left.  So and so died.  So and so got burned out and left.

Regardless of why the left, it always hurt to see them go.

Now, I am one of those who has gone.  Over the hill.  Forgotten.  Moved on.  I made the list of those who are no longer appointed.  It feels funny to no longer be in the fraternity.

Every year I read the list of new appointments.  This year, I realized that I knew hardly anyone on the list of appointments, but I knew a ton of names on the list of those who have passed.

It was a wonderful career, it was a wonderful time.  It was a wonderful group to be a part of.  I still live vicariously through all of my minister friends.

But, we all have to remember that we are all still ministers whether we have a church assignment or not.  Even if you were never a pastor, you are still a minister.  Every day we have a chance to wake up in this world and share the love.  That is why we are here.

And that is a list that we will never get off of.  We will always be here to love others.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

Savannah Bananas

From the category of "every now and then we just need to laugh" here come the Savannah Bananas.  The Bananas are like the Globetrotters of baseball.  Their stadium in Savannah Georgia is sold out for every home game.

Their cheer leaders are called the Banana Grannies... you can imagine...

They pull all kinds of pranks and jokes and they make baseball fun.  If you have not heard of them, watch some of their videos on youtube.  They will bring a smile to your face.

click here to watch a video of them

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

Where are you going?

Friday I was driving to a cruise port for a weekend cruise.  [I should never complain about my life, right???]  Anyway, I just figured that I knew how to get there.  I did... kind of.  When I got close, I realized that there was more than one Carnival ship.  I took my choice.

Wrong choice.  And I am coming up on the edge of boarding time.  I am nervous.  I make a questionable U-turn.  I head towards the other ship.  I made it in time, but in the future, I am going to check my paperwork and make sure that I have the address of the port for the ship in question.

We should know where we are going.

Having said that, I was talking with someone the other day who does not know where they are going in life.  One career has ended and they don't know what is next.  I can relate to that... one big section of your life comes to an end...  there are questions...

What happened?
Why did this happen?
What is next?
What will I do while I am in between?

Well, I have to tell you that it has taken me years to adjust to the big vocational changes in my life.  But I think that I am now landing comfortably in my new territory.

If you are "in-between" what was, and what will be, let me tell you that although it is an odd time and there are odd feelings, things can and will get better.

Try to relax and make good decisions, one day at a time.  Give yourself some time to navigate.  We can't always know where we are going, but we can relax along the way.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

Silence is golden

I was recently around a person who had to announce how much money they made.  They informed those listening that they lived in a 6,000 square foot house.  On and on they went about how much they had.  I found this very annoying, especially because a number of people who heard them say such things will never have that level of income or that size of home.

I think they were telling the truth.  I think that they do have all of that stuff.  But it just didn't sound good.  I think people who need to tell you how cool or how good they are, are probably suffering from feelings of inferiority.

I feel bad about myself so I have to tell you how great I am.

It just doesn't sound good.  Sometimes silence is golden.  I wish that more people were ok with just sitting in silence.  

John Wesley said, "preach the gospel, when necessary, use words."  O how I wish we used less words and spent more time just loving people.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

perspective

I ran into a string of bad luck.  My car has started burning oil.  One quart every 600 miles.  Ouch.  We have had an unexpected home repair of $970 which added nothing to the value, it simply fixed a broken thing.  And to top it off, I was flossing my teeth and a crown popped off.  I was grousing about this run of bad luck.

image from our mantle.

A friend stopped me and asked:  How are your legs?  Can you walk?  How are your eyes?  Can you see?  How are your ears?  Can you hear?  Can you hear me right now?

Oops.  I forgot to see the good.  Lots of negativity can collect around us and we can get sidetracked.  During these times, remember all the good.  The car will get fixed or replaced, the house is fixed and the crown is already back on.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

I'm angry

It is 5pm and I am writing for tomorrow's blog.  When you read this, remember that I wrote this yesterday.  So it is 5pm and I am angry.

Someone, [not a family member] said something to Scott that they had no right to say.  In a world where I am trying to build a relationship with my son, someone said something that was not helpful.

It made me mad.

Or, I chose to be mad.  Anyway, I felt, I still feel mad.

After about 30 minutes I realize that the only person that I can do anything about in this story is me.  So what to do with this anger?

First, I recognize that it is there, and that it is ok to feel angry.

Secondly, I choose to take steps to move on.
1. I justify the person who said the words: they don't understand, they are not very smart, blah blah blah
2. I put on some Fernando Ortega. Soothing music calms the savage beast.
3. I eat some chocolate. [always a good option.]

Whew, I feel better already!

Anger does not have to last forever.  Feel it, and then take steps to move on.  You don't want to get stuck in anger.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

What if everyone...

What if everyone did what I was doing?  Would the world be a better place or a worse one?

I have a few pet peeves.  One of them is people who won't park in a parking spot.  Instead, they park in the fire lane.  They want to be close to that take out place, or maybe their loved one won't be in there for very long.

What if we all did that?  No one would be able to get into the restaurant or place of business.  There would be mass anger...  Everyone trying to get the special spot that only the most entitled can take.

So back to the question... What if everyone was doing what I am doing???  Would the world have more love or more selfishness?  Would the world have more generosity or more greed.

If everyone drove as I do, would the roads be peaceful or a series of road rage incidents?

What we do matters.  We are all connected.  

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below. And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Despair

So when I posted yesterday's blog I knew that the fugitives had been captured.  I did not know that Vicky White, the correctional officer, had shot and killed herself.

How sad.  How sad for her family and friends.  It is just sad.

Yesterday I posted about her loneliness, and in effect, our potential loneliness.  Today, I am thinking about the despair that she must have felt.  What was she thinking???  Maybe she thought, "If this does not work out, I am just going to end it all?"

Anytime we end a life, it ends the chance for things to improve.  But as long as we are alive, there is good to do, there are people to love and things can always change for the better.

If you are feeling despair, please get help.  There is still a purpose to your life.  There is still good to be seen.  Do not let loneliness, hurt or despair have the last word.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below. And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Looking for love

Here is to the strange case of Vicky White.  A correctional officer who was days from retirement.  Evidently had found a romantic relationship with a convicted murderer.

People are lonely.  Some people are really lonely.

She sold her house for 50% of it's value, took a bunch of money out of the bank and broke her boyfriend out of jail.  How long did she think that she could stay on the run?  Relationships can be crazy, imagine that one:  law breakers, jailer and jailee, on the run... it had to be a crazy ten days.  How was that worth it?

I don't know what to think about the whole story.  I remember the country western song entitled, "God is great, Beer is good, People are crazy."

And I guess that people are really lonely.

If you are reading this and you are lonely, don't do anything crazy.  Find a friend.  Spend time with people that you like.  There are lots of normal ways to combat loneliness.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below. And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Learning to love, one more time...

This is my last post in the series, learning to love.  But, I would hope that all of us, every day, are looking for ways to love others.  Looking for ways to love those who are good to us and those who have not been good to us.

One of the most important things that I can say about learning to love, or really about anything in life, is that it begins with a desire to try.  It begins with the awareness that you want to improve, you want to learn how to do it, you are willing to make the effort.

Without a desire to try to improve, we are dead in the water, but once the desire appears, we can begin our journey of forgiveness and love.  We can begin our journey of releasing them, and at the same time, releasing ourselves from the prison of bitterness and resentment.

Just making a conscious decision that I want to try, puts my mind in a better place.  If I want to try, I am already one step down the road of healing, and my mind can now be engaged in looking for the proper tools and ideas to help me release those who have hurt me.  [see posts of the last few days for some tools.]

I hope that you are willing to try.  I hope that you are willing to begin.  I hope that you can take that first step.  There is a better day, there is a better way.  There is a life where we are no longer dominated by resentment and anger.

But we must take that first step.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below. And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Learning to love part 4

I posted this a few months back, but since it is a part of my journey to forgive and learn to love, here it is again...

Regressive memory therapy

I was seeing a counselor a few years ago and she told me about RMT regressive memory therapy. The idea of this is that you remember the times that hurt, and that still hurt…

• When I was three years old and my Dad screamed at me on Easter Sunday.
• When I got that anonymous letter in 2004
• When I was 13 and my mom smacked me in the mouth [one of many times]
• When someone wrote a book and said untrue and hurtful things about me.
• When I was rejected by a church member or staff person.

Such things hurt.

In regressive therapy, the idea is that these things still hurt because part of us was “left behind” in those moments. Part of us, part of our hearts are still stuck there in the past.

The theory is, that in order to release ourselves, and the others involved in the painful story, we need to journey to the past and recover our broken self.

So in this therapy, you journey in your mind back to that moment. Take a plane, drive a car, and get to that time and place. Find the you that is there… say to yourself… “Jeff, look, it is me… do you see me? Do you see that I am you? Look, I know you are hurting now, but you will survive… I am proof. I am sorry that I left you behind. Come with me now. Join me in my heart and lets be together. Let’s be whole again.”

And you take your broken self, left in the past, with you now, into the present.  You rescue yourself from that painful moment.

Repeat as necessary.

This approach to healing our memories has helped me a lot.
And I am still working on it.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below. And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Learning to love Pt 3

I recently heard a teacher talk of a three step method to learn to offer love to someone who has hurt you.

Step one.  Think of someone that has never hurt you.  Think of someone who you love and who loves you.  Think of the perfect relationship with someone that you are close to.  The teacher said that for many of you, this may be a pet.

Bingo.  I picked George the dog.  George is Jenny's dog and he loves our family.  If he hasn't seen you for a while and you walk in the door, he will start yipping and hopping and spinning around.  He will run and jump into your arms and give you a big hug.  Everyone loves George.

George napping with his favorite toy.

George getting ready for a drive.

George with Grandpa Jeff at Lowes.

So step one, think about someone that you love.  George the dog for me.  Feel the feelings that you feel for that person or pet.  Let your heart be filled with love.

Now step two.  Think of someone that you are ambivalent towards.  Someone you know of, but don't know.  The mailman, the trashman, the pizza maker at the pizza store.  Now, in step two, transfer the feelings that you have for the person or pet in step one, to the person that you are ambivalent towards.  Think of the ambivalent person with the same love, care and affection that you feel for the person/pet in step one.  Let your heart be filled with love for this stranger.

Now when you have mastered step two, you are ready for step three.

Step three:  Think of the person that has hurt you.  Get them in your mind.  Then transfer the same good feelings that you shared in steps one and two to them.  Offer them the love that is in your heart for George the dog and a complete stranger.  Offer that person, all the love that is in your heart.

It is a simple exercise.

Repeat it as needed.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below. And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Learning to love Pt 2

One day Abraham invited a beggar to his tent for a meal. When grace was being said the man began to curse God, declaring he could not bear to hear His Name.
Seized with indignation, Abraham drove the blasphemer away.
When he was at his prayers that night, God said to him, “This man has cursed and reviled me for fifty years and yet I have given him food to eat every day. Could you not put up with him for a single meal?”

Sometimes, it helps me to remember that people are broken.  My mom did the best that she could.  She was a child of the depression.  She had no college education.  She always felt inferior herself.

If we choose to react to what people do to us, we can get ugly really fast.  But if we remember that everyone is broken, we can allow the hurt, the slights, and the rejections to roll off of our backs.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below. And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

When is Cinco de Mayo this year?

Today is Cinco de Mayo. Cinco = five. Mayo = May. The fifth of May.

I love to ask people, "when is Cinco de Mayo this year?" Many people recognize it as a holiday but do not understand that it is date specific. Much like someone from another culture might hear that we celebrate a holiday called July 4th. If the words July and fourth don't translate well into their language, they might not know it was a specific day.

Did you know that Cinco de Mayo is not celebrated very much in Mexico? Cinco de Mayo is actually a fabricated holiday for Americans to drink margaritas and have a party.

It is also not the Mexican day of Independence. That is September 16th. Cinco de Mayo celebrates a Mexican victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla, May 5th 1862.

Anyway, today is Cinco de Mayo. When is it next year?

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below. And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Star Wars Day

Yes it is here again... Star Wars Day!

I remember when the original Star Wars movie came out. I was 19 years old at the time and visiting my friends in San Jose, California. I was there for two weeks. I saw the movie seven times during that visit.

Why is today Star Wars Day?

May the Forth be with you!!!

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below. And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Learning to love those who hurt us

It is one thing to say that we should love our enemies, it is another thing to actually learn how to do it.  In the next few blogs I am going to give some ideas on how to love your enemies.

Today's tip:  See them with Jesus.

[I don't mean see them dead in heaven!]

See them with Jesus.

When we think of those whom we don't like, we often feel sour.  But when we think of Jesus, we feel good, we feel peaceful.  We feel love.

Now think of the person that you don't like.  Feel the sour.  Now think of Jesus in the room with that person.  If Jesus is in the same room with that person, my feelings calm down.

Now see that Jesus is walking over to that person and putting his arm around them.  Now I look and there they are, the two of them, arm in arm.  Jesus even hugs the person that I have not liked.

My heart changes a bit towards them.

If Jesus can love them.  Maybe I can too.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

experiencing love

Hearsay.  That is when someone said that someone said.  Although not admissible in a court of law my friend Brian passed some on that was worth sharing.

Richard Rohr says the only way we can experience joy is by learning to give love away.

I don't have the date and location of the quote, but I believe Brian and it is a really good quote.

Are you having trouble feeling love?  Do you need more love?  Why not start with giving some away.  Invest some goodness, some kindness, some grace in others.  Give it to those you love.  Give it to those that you don't.  Give to anyone and everyone.

What goes around comes around.  If you want to be filled with love, give yourself, give your love away.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure 

May Day

May Day.

This is not a distress call.

When I was a kid, May Day was a thing.  It was celebrated on May 1st.  We would put flowers on someone's door.  We would dance around the maypole.  It was a celebration of Spring.  It was a celebration of life.

One year I was asked to be one of the dancers around the maypole.  We were supposed to skip.  I only knew how to gallop.  So my mom and my sisters had to teach me how to skip.  I still remember that.  

It was a simpler time.  When was the last time that you gave someone flowers?  When was the last time that you danced?

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure